CHRISTMAS MAILS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 December 1934, Page 4

CHRISTMAS MAILS

THE POSTMAN’S PART. Days ago they started to come, these gay little missives laden with Christinas good wishes. At first it was just an occasional one that we discovered on our mat after the postman’s visit. A greeting from the folks at home, perhaps, mailed weeks ahead of the necessary time, in order that it might reach us before the twentyfifth. But gradually the packet of envelopes pushed through our letterbox has grown thicker and thicker, for the season of Christmas cards is in full swing, and all our friends and acquaintances are availing themselves of the opportunity to express their good wishes in the fitting language of the poets. What a host of messages these little cards convey—messages that wake in us nothing but a grateful responsiveness. Not one sordid or bitter thought to fiiar the memory of the sender. From every part of the world they come, seeming to concentrate their effort on promoting happiness during the Christmas season. Half-forgotten names and but dimlyremembered faces are vividly recalled, and wo find ourselves smiling at the recollections that suddenly flock around us. We owe. much to the makers ot Christmas cards, that they refuse to express anything but happiness. They make it impossible for us to broadcast gloom through the medium of these printed greetings. We are compelled, if we send messages to make them messages of goodwill. Waste of money, we hear tne cynics say, to spend so much money on objects so utterly useless. But we are inclined to wonder whether money is wasted on things which in such a wonderful way draw a whole world together. Things which make us entertain kindly thoughts towards all people. Perchance the world can better afford the wasted money than the lonely hearts, for the world is not composed entirely of cynics.